10 Things You Should Never Clean with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Updated: Apr. 18, 2024
These powerful little scrubbers clean like, well, magic. But they can't do it all. Never use a Magic Eraser on a car or these nine other items, according to the pros.
Magic Erasers took the cleaning world by storm when they were introduced 20 years ago. They’ll remove sticker residue, soap scum, crayon marks and tons of other stuff from your household surfaces. No other cleaning product in recent memory has such a buzzy reputation, but they can’t be used on everything. (Ahem: no using a Magic Eraser on a car!)
So while you should definitely know how to use a Magic Eraser, it’s equally imperative to know what not to use Magic Erasers on. That’s because these tools can do serious damage if you don’t know what you’re doing. “The general guideline is to not use Magic Erasers on items that may have a protective coating or seal on them,” says pro cleaner Dan Deonarain, owner of Galaxy Maids residential and commercial cleaning company. Damage to these protective sealants can attract dirt and smudges and will shorten the life span of your surfaces. Sounds easy enough, but even something without a sealant could be damaged by the deceptively abrasive nature of a Magic Eraser.
What makes them so abrasive? Reader’s Digest talked to Deonarain and chemist William F. Carroll Jr. to find out what these magical chunks of foam really are and how to clean your household surfaces without harming your stuff. Ahead, learn about the items in your home that you should never, ever clean with a Magic Eraser.
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About the experts
Reviewed for accuracy by: Ann Russell, TikTok’s “cleaning auntie” and the author of How to Clean Everything. |
What is a Magic Eraser?
Magic Erasers are small, flexible, open-cell foam sponges made from melamine resin, a chemical compound that’s often used to make hard plastic dishware and kitchen utensils. To make Magic Erasers, the manufacturer injects the melamine resin with a “blowing agent,” according to Carroll, an adjunct professor in the Department of Chemistry at Indiana University.
That introduces millions of tiny bubbles into the resin, creating a foam. As the melamine foam cures, the blowing agent evaporates, leaving behind the resin matrix that once surrounded all those bubbles.
Carroll says that if you look under a microscope, Magic Erasers resemble those mesh kitchen scrubbers with interlocking plastic rings. But these rings are so small and thin that they can work themselves into the tiniest grooves of any surface. Then, with your help, they lift the dirt out.
That’s right: With all this talk of chemicals, Magic Erasers clean by a physical process, not a chemical one, Carroll says. And because the foam is open-celled, like a kitchen sponge, Magic Erasers suck up water and are easy to squeeze. As you scrub, the microscopic cells break off, which is why Magic Erasers get smaller as you use them, until it’s time to get a new one.
Ready to get started? Or in this case, not get started? (Seriously, don’t clean these items with a Magic Eraser!) Consult your cleaning schedule, and let’s go.
Stone countertops
Countertops bear the brunt of your kitchen activities: cooking, chopping, scrubbing and even doing crafts and homework. Deonarain says today’s countertops have to be durable and easy to clean, so they often have a sealant—especially stone countertops like granite and marble. (Avoid using a Magic Eraser on quartz too; it isn’t sealed, but it has a glossy finish.) That’s why he never uses Magic Erasers to clean countertops, and you should avoid it too, unless you know that the surface is safe.
Always test a small area first. Magic Erasers’ tiny melamine threads easily scratch soft stone like marble, and they can dull sealants or finishes on countertops of any material. For a safer option, stick with the basics: warm water and dish soap with a soft cloth. And always follow your countertop manufacturer’s recommendations, especially when cleaning porous, delicate stone like marble.
Nonstick pots and pans
Nonstick coatings on pots and pans are no match for the microscopic, razor-fine, abrasive melamine resin of Magic Erasers. It’s not even a fair fight. Nonstick finishes like Teflon make cooking easier and healthier, but they can and will chip off if you use the wrong spatula or accidentally scrape your fork against the pan. You’re not even supposed to put these pans in the dishwasher! If mere water and detergent can nick the coating, a Magic Eraser will definitely shorten the life of your nonstick cookware. And here’s a scary thought: Once these “forever chemicals” start to flake off, the little remnants could end up in your food every time you use your pan. No thanks.
Instead, stick with a soft sponge, dish soap and water. Be choosy about the sponge! Avoid the abrasive side, which can also damage nonstick cookware.
Stainless steel appliances
Sorry, you can’t use a Magic Eraser on stainless steel either. It says it right on the box, and Deonarain agrees. Stainless steel is a perfect fit in the kitchen because it resists rust and corrosion, but scrapes and scratches? Not so much. (Mr. Clean’s website says stainless steel sinks are safe, but Deonarain avoids stainless surfaces and appliances.)
If your sink or appliance has a spot of rust or a dull patina, bring the stainless steel back to its former glory with tough-but-gentle cleaners like baking soda. When cleaning stainless steel, always go with the grain whenever possible to avoid random visible lines and whorls. For deeper gouges, buffing out the abrasion with fine-grit sandpaper can help, but call a pro or consult the manufacturer if you’re unsure.
Vehicle paint
Deonarain and Galaxy Maids not only specialize in houses, apartments and offices, but also handle fleet vehicle washing and interior cleaning. Deonarain has advice born out of years of car-cleaning experience: Never use a Magic Eraser on your car’s paint. Automotive paint jobs are highly sophisticated, multilayered and expensive. If you have a deep scuff or scrape on your car’s exterior paint, the last thing you need to do is create more problems for yourself by scrubbing off the exterior clear coat—or worse, deeper layers—with a super-abrasive sponge.
Instead of using a Magic Eraser on a car, opt for tried-and-true methods. Safer solutions include soapy water, car wax or polish for minor dirt and scuffs, but go to an auto-body shop or detailer for advice on fixing key gouges, fender benders and sideswiped paint.
Glossy paint finishes
Magic Erasers work like, well, magic when it comes to removing grubby fingerprints, crayon “artwork” and assorted household grime from painted surfaces. But it’s important to test a small area before jumping in and cleaning your entire wall, molding or painted furniture. High-gloss paint, in particular, is known for durability, but the shiny finish can get dull or scratched if you scrub it with a Magic Eraser. Even some matte paints can be affected, so proceed with caution—giant stripes from too-aggressive cleaning will drive you nuts and probably require you to repaint.
A quick weekly dusting session will help. You can use a mild dish-soap-and-water solution to tackle dirtier jobs when using a Magic Eraser on paint isn’t possible.
Varnished wood surfaces or furniture
Varnish protects and beautifies wood while allowing the wood grain to show through. You can find it on everything from gleaming hardwood floors and wood paneling to handcrafted rocking chairs and coffee tables. Varnish tends to be glossy, and like a glossy paint, it can easily scuff and dull when subjected to the ultra-fine resin matrix of a Magic Eraser. That’s why Deonarain says Galaxy Maids never uses them on wood furniture or varnished wood surfaces, including countertops.
Instead, clean wood furniture, floors and paneling by regularly dusting with a soft microfiber cloth or dust mop. For food splatters, fingerprints and general grime, use a cloth dampened with a mild, wood-safe cleaner or dish soap and water. Be sure to wring out the cloth or mop well. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
Collectibles and jewelry
Take special care with valuables and sentimental items like jewelry, antiques and collectibles that you’d be sorry to ruin. Many of these items are quite small, so the admonition to test a small, inconspicuous area may be a little difficult to carry out. Instead, learn how to clean jewelry the right way, which will differ depending on the material. For your grandmother’s fine china or other delicate heirlooms, try gentle homemade cleaners and a soft microfiber cloth instead of harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers.
Screens
Computer, television, phone and tablet screens should not be cleaned with a Magic Eraser, Deonarain says. They may look like plain glass or plastic, but these highly specialized screens use technologies like liquid crystal display (LCD) and light-emitting diodes (LED), and they often have anti-glare coatings, all of which a Magic Eraser can permanently damage. And if you’ve ever had a scratched tablet or phone screen, you know it not only looks ugly, but the scratches also gather dirt and grime, trapping you in a cleaning loop.
Whether you’re cleaning a TV screen, laptop, phone or tablet, confine your methods to dusting with a damp microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints. Then invest in a screen protector for devices that offer them.
Skin
Our bodies get pretty dirty. After a long day working in the garage, you might be tempted to use a Magic Eraser to get rid of paint stuck to your skin or grease under your fingernails. So can you use Magic Erasers on your body? Absolutely not. Magic Erasers are useful little tools to clean solid surfaces and even fabric—but “definitely not your skin,” Deonarain says.
The sponge’s microscopic, sandpaper-like matrix will irritate your skin and could even cause painful abrasions. And you thought using a Magic Eraser on a car was bad! Take a shower instead, and use products made to clean the human body. (It should go without saying, but don’t use them on your pets either.)
Teeth
Listen, we all want white teeth, but these are cleaning products. They’re not intended for human consumption or use on or in your body. They can seriously damage your tooth enamel and gums, according to dentists at the University of Nebraska (and everywhere else around the country). Seriously, do not use Magic Erasers on your teeth.
Simply brush your teeth, floss regularly and see your dentist. You can even sip staining liquids like coffee, cola and tea through a straw so they slip past your front teeth entirely. Is your smile stained? There are multiple teeth-whitening products on the market, so try those instead of gambling with your oral health.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on what not to use a Magic Eraser on, Ally Childress tapped her experience as a seasoned home and cleaning reporter, and then Ann Russell, TikTok’s “cleaning auntie” and the author of How to Clean Everything, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. For this piece, we relied on reputable primary sources, including a cleaning expert and a chemist, as well as academic institutions. We verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- William F. Carroll Jr., PhD, adjunct professor at Indiana University; phone interview, March 8, 2024
- Dan Deonarain, owner of Galaxy Maids; email interview, March 2, 2024
- University of Nebraska: “Is It Safe to Use a Magic Eraser as a Teeth Whitener?”
Originally Published: December 04, 2020
